Posts

Introduction to Anatomy and Physiology - The Massage Connection

  W  ith the recognition of massage as an alternativeor complementary form of therapy, the demands made of the therapist are increasing. Although mas-sage is more involved with the knowledge and use of physical skills and techniques, the knowledge of anatomy, physiology, and pathology is also necessary for the therapist to effectively use those learned mas-sage skills. The therapist is certainly not required to know the field as thoroughly as medical professionals because diagnosis is not involved; however, the ther-apist should have the knowledge to understand how the body functions and how different parts of the body integrate. With this foundation, a therapist should under-stand how various diseases affect specific functions and how to recognize those conditions in which treatment may be detrimental to the client. Thera-pists should also be able to recognize conditions that may be harmful to his or her well-being. In addition, the therapist must have a thorough knowledge of various
Post a Comment
Read more

Levels of Organization-An Overview

Image
  Levels of Organization-an Overview The body is made up of millions of individual units called  cells.  Cells are the smallest living part of the body. The cells, in turn, are made up of  chemi-cals —atoms (e.g., carbon, hydrogen, oxygen, nitro- gen, and phosphorus), molecules, and compounds (proteins, carbohydrates) organized in different ways to form the structures inside the cell. A col-lection of cells having the same function is called  tissue.  For example, a collection of cells that pro-duce contraction is called muscle tissue. Different tissues that are grouped together and perform the same function are called  organs.  For example, the stomach, which helps with food digestion, is made up of muscle tissue that helps move the food, con-nective tissue that binds the muscle tissue, blood vessels and glands, epithelial tissue that lines the inside of the stomach, and nervous tissue that reg-ulates the movement and secretion of glands. Or-gans with the same function are grouped tog
Post a Comment
Read more

The Holistic Approach

  The Holistic Approach   Although it is easier to teach and learn anatomy and physiology by dividing the body into organs and systems, it has to be understood that the body is complex and highly integrated. Each system is interde-pendent and works together as one—THE BODY. In The Life Application Study Bible,  (Life ApplicationStudy Bible. Tyndale House Publishers, 1997:I Corinthians 12:12-27.) the analogy of the human body is used in a different context; however, it aptly describes the working of the body: “. . . the body is a unit, though it is made up of many parts; and though all its parts are many, they form one body . . . if one part suffers, every part suffers with it; if one part is honored, every part rejoices with it.”   What happens to one tissue affects the whole body and what happens to the body affects all of its parts. It is this holistic concept that alternative/complementary therapy, of which massage is one, adopts. To extend this further, the manipulation of soft tis
Post a Comment
Read more

Homeostasis

Image
  Homeostasis   Traditionally, the body has been divided into many systems, according to specific functions. The ultimate purpose of every system, however, is to maintain a constant cell environment, enabling each cell to live. Fluid surrounds every cell of the body, and all sys-tems are structured to maintain the physical condi-tions and concentrations of dissolved substances in this fluid. The fluid outside the cell is known as the  extracellular fluid  (ECF), and the fluid inside thecell is known as  intracellular fluid  (ICF) (see Figure 1.2). The extracellular fluid inside the blood vessel is known as the  intravascular fluid,  or  plasma.  The fluid outside of the cells and the blood vessels is known as the  interstitial fluid.  Because the intersti-tial fluid surrounds the cells, it is known as the  inter-nal environment;  the condition of constancy in theinternal environment is called  homeostasis.  In short, all systems maintain homeostasis by regulating the volume and composi
Post a Comment
Read more

Systems of the Body

Image
  Systems of the Body This book, for convenience, divides the body into the  integumentary, skeletal, muscular, nervous, car-diovascular, lymphatic, respiratory, endocrine, re-productive, digestive,  and  urinary systems  (seeFigure 1.4). At times, the skeletal and muscular are considered together as musculoskeletal system. The integumentary (skin) system  includes theskin and all of its structures, such as sweat glands, nails, and hair. The major function of this system (see Figure 1.4A) is to protect the body from environmen-tal hazards and to maintain core temperature. For an  example of how skin maintains homeostasis, con-sider the effects of an increase in atmospheric temperature.  The skin possesses sensors (nerve recep-tors) that detect temperature change. When a rise in temperature is detected, the network of blood vessels in the skin, aided by the nervous system, dilate and more blood reaches closer to the surface of the body where heat can be removed by conduction. The sweat
Post a Comment
Read more

Planes of Reference

Image
  Planes of Reference To study the relationship of one structure to the other or to accurately explain its position, certain standard planes of references are used. Three planes are de scribed here.   The  sagittal plane  runs from front to back, dividing the body into right and left parts. The  coronal  or  frontal plane  runs from left to right, di-viding the body into front and back portions. The  transverse  or  horizontal plane  runs across the body,dividing it into top and bottom portions. These planes help to orient the position of studied structure (see Figure 1.5).
Post a Comment
Read more

Human Anatomic Position

Image
  Anatomic Position Because the body can move in different ways, it is difficult to describe the position of a structure without agreeing on a standard body position. This standard position is called the  anatomic position.  All struc-tures are described in relationship to this position. In the anatomic position, the body is erect, with the feet parallel to each other and flat on the floor; the arms are at the sides of the body, with the palms of the hands turned forward and the fingers pointing straight down. The head and eyes are directed for-ward (see Figure 1.6).
Post a Comment
Read more